C140 RARE COLT 1911 FROM ARGENTINE 1941 NAVY CONTRACT [M]

Description C140 RARE COLT 1911 FROM ARGENTINE 1941 NAVY CONTRACT; In 1941 the Argentine Naval Commission purchased 500 “off the shelf” Government Model pistols and hand engraved them with “REPUBLICA ARGENTINA/ARMADA NACIONAL – 1941” and stamped the top of slide with the Argentine crest. Of these 500 pistols that were made most were recalled for inspection and parkerized leaving the existing supply of Colt made and factory blue models even smaller. It is interesting to note that this pistol is equipped with the Swartz Safety device (this was an early firing pin safety which locked the firing pin unless the grip safety was squeezed). Colt’s production ledgers listed only 416 Government pistols with this safety device. These pistols are a rarity today particularly in original finish. 45 ACP with 5 inch barrel. Fine bore and a crisp action. This is a scarce Colt made commercial pistol that is seldom encountered in original condition. This is one of the hardest Colts to find – even rarer than the Singer! MODERN   $ 6,000.